Flood Warning...the National Weather Service In Paducah, Kentucky Has Issued A Flood Warning For The Lower Ohio River Affecting Areas In Indiana And Kentucky... At Newburgh Dam Affecting Spencer...vanderburgh... Warrick...daviess And Henderson Counties .water Levels Continue To Slowly Rise Along Portions Of The Lower ...Read More.Effective: November 20, 2018 at 5:00amExpires: November 22, 2018 at 8:12pmTarget Area: Spencer; Vanderburgh; Warrick

Secretary of State: Exercise Your Right to Vote

That phrase is often deployed by candidates near an election, and it’s become a cliché for those who follow political campaigns. It’s easy to mock it as hyperbole, yet there is a lot of truth in that statement. In many ways, every election is the most important in our lifetime, because free and fair elections are the lifeblood of our form of government. The strength of the republic draws on citizen input, and there is no petition, protest, or opinion that carries more weight than the ballot box.

In the 2016 presidential election, 58% of registered voters cast a ballot. Midterm elections see a decrease from that – in 2014, 30% of registered voters cast a ballot in the fall. And primaries can see even fewer voters engaged: 13% of Indiana voters participated in the 2014 primary election, where general election candidates were selected.

Thankfully, the solution is an easy one. Indiana offers online voter registration through IndianaVoters.com, a comprehensive website where Hoosiers can not only register to vote, but can check their polling place, look at a mock ballot, and see early voting options for their county. This year, my office created the option of texting to register – a smartphone user can text the word ‘Indiana’ to 2VOTE (28683), and they will receive instructions on how to register from their phone. These tools make it quick and easy to register to vote and can save citizens a trip to the county clerk’s office.

Once registered, voters can also vote early the month leading up to Election Day. Early voting begins April 10, and voters can visit their county clerk’s office to cast a ballot, or request an absentee ballot if they cannot vote in-person on Election Day.

These initiatives make voting easier, but some Hoosiers still choose to stay home on Election Day, believing their vote doesn’t count. That couldn’t be further from the truth. One of my favorite stories from Indiana history illustrates this point.

While in the fields on Election Day in 1836, Henry Shoemaker remembered he had to go vote to fulfill a promise he made to Madison Marsh, a candidate for state representative. Just as the polls were closing, Henry cast his ballot for Mr. Marsh.

Marsh won by one vote, and after a lengthy recount it was determined that Shoemaker’s ballot was that tiebreaking vote. At that time, U.S. Senators were selected by the state General Assembly rather than the popular vote. When the votes were tallied for Indiana’s next U.S. senator, Edward Hannegan won by a single vote – and that vote had been cast by State Representative Madison Marsh.

Just a few years later, now in Washington, D.C., Congress debated the option of military conflict with Mexico. Senator Edward Hannegan of Indiana cast the deciding vote to engage in that military conflict. In the years that followed, the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California and parts of Colorado were added as U.S. territories. The most dramatic expansion of our borders since the Louisiana Purchase started when one Hoosier farmhand cast his ballot at his local polling place.

Now admittedly, this is a dramatic illustration, but we ought to take it seriously. Every election cycle we hear Americans give their excuse for not going to the polls: inconvenience, lack of competition, apathy brought on by negative campaigning, and so on. But then I think back to when I saw Iraqi citizens lined up for hours to cast ballots and dip their finger in purple ink.

I encourage all Hoosiers to exercise their constitutional right and engage in civic life by voting this year. Take advantage of the options available to you, and do your part to hold our government accountable. After all, it is a government of, for, and by the people, and things don’t work properly unless we are informed and engaged.

The 2018 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 8th, 2018. Polls are open from 6:00am to 6:00pm. Registration for the primary closes on April 9th, 2018. All registrations must be received and processed by the county clerk’s office before that time. Voters can check their registration status, register to vote, view early voting options, and look up their polling place by visiting IndianaVoters.com.

Tammy Stott Frost, will share how to start an Adult Day Service Program and an After-School Care Program for children. All interested families are invited to attend. Held at Frankfort Library, 208 E Clinton Street in Frankfort. Contact Gena Carson 765-650-1220 if you have questions.

Recent Obituaries

Fred Lewis Emery, Jr., 78, a former Frankfort resident, died November 15, 2018 in his home in West Lafayette, Ind. He was born March 7, 1940 in Clinton County to Fred & Clara (Sexton) Emery. His companion and soul mate was Karla (Thomas) Emery. Fred was a graduate of Frankfort High School. He was a lifelong…

Robert L. Buser, 90, died peacefully on November 13, 2018. Bob was born in Waveland IN on June 26, 1928 to Lee Roy and Lucile Buser. He married Margaret Louise Booher on August 5, 1951. She survives. Also surviving are son Joe (Gretchen) Buser, granddaughters Megan and Emma of Crawfordsville IN, and daughter Ann Buser…

Kathy A. Lindauer, 68, passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 7:37 a.m. at Rosewalk Healthcare Center of Indianapolis. She was born to Walter & Kathleen Lindauer on December 2, 1949 in Frankfort, IN. She graduated from Frankfort High School and later moved to Indianapolis where she attended beauty school and became a beautician. She…

Stuart ‘Red’ Ghere, 90, of Frankfort, IN, passed away following a brief illness on November 14, 2018 surrounded by his family. Stuart was born on December 30, 1927 in Frankfort, to Clifford T. Ghere and Amanda Tot (Stewart) Ghere. He married Carole A. Cox on February 24, 1962 in Frankfort, IN and she survives. Stuart…

Elva Zae (Denham) Reeder, 88, of Frankfort died on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at Mulberry Health and Retirement Community. Born June 7, 1930 in Tompkinsville, Kentucky to parents Clarence and Anna Snow (Sewell) Denham. Elva’s parents moved to Frankfort, Indiana when she was in elementary school. While in high school, she worked at the Roxie…

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